Discovery Channel Founder’s West Creek Ranch Still Up For Grabs at $149M

Recognized as one of the most significant listings in the American West, West Creek Ranch is “the place where the earth opens up to tell its story,” and it could be yours for $149 million. Currently owned by The Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks, West Creek Ranch is a private retreat like no other, presenting a collection of some of the most enduring and treasured natural geological wonders in the canyonlands of the American West.

Conveniently accessed by Grand Junction Regional Airport and a quick helicopter ride or scenic 55 minute drive through majestic Unaweep Canyon brings you to West Creek Ranch, a 6,919-acre  estate property stretching across Mesa County, Colorado, (approx. 6,412 acres) and bordering Grand County, Utah (approx. 507 acres).

Situated just east of Moab, north of Telluride, and west of Aspen, you couldn’t find a more enchanting landscape if you tried. Majestic red canyons formed by the Dolores River wind their way up the Colorado border with Utah, creating the perfect backdrop for what is billed as “the finest land and estate property in the Great American West” – and rightfully so.

“West Creek Ranch is a stunning collection of gem properties, and the convergence of several major canyons, gorges, and river valleys,” says listing broker Kerry Endsley of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty. “This is a place where the planet truly opens up to tell its epic geologic story.”

The iconic land holding affords an exquisite Jamie Daugaard designed main house, comprising of 22,000 square feet of luxury living and entertaining, with an additional 3,500 square feet of outdoor covered verandas. Breathtaking scenic panoramas can be found in every direction, yet contain no views of neighboring properties or structures.

The four-level estate is serviced by an oversized private elevator, and includes eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a great room, formal dining room, chef’s kitchen, spacious study, art studio, theater room, game room, home gym, staff quarters, and resort-style pool and spa.

Four water fountains, six fireplaces, a two-level circular stone library, interior marble archways and columns, modern and efficient geo-thermal heating and cooling, a backup power generator, five-car garage, helipad, and all furnishings – exclusive of personal items such as art, fossils and other collections – are also included.

In the must-see estate video you’ll learn that West Creek Ranch is home to Native American rock art that is several thousand years old, as well as nearby dinosaur tracks that date back millions upon million of years. Adventure, discovery, and heightened luxury come together among the ranch’s four parcels — Gill Meadows, Blue Creek, Sky Mesa, and West Creek Ranch Headquarters — each offering its own unique spirit, rich history, and value. Combined with epic landscapes that took hundreds of millions of years to create, West Creek Ranch provides an incredible opportunity for the right buyer.

A three-bedroom, two-bathroom summer cabin is also included in the sale, outfitted with its own helipad, furnishings, and a separate garage. The ultra-private Creekside guest house is ideal for preparing meals sourced from fishing the nearby trout stream.

The new owner will have an array of unbeatable amenities right out their front door including a nearly 400-square-foot observatory with quality 20″ Meade Telescope and a 12-foot-wide rotating copper dome that opens for gazing at the planets and stars, plus an airplane hangar, custom library, and impressive equestrian facilities.

Additionally, the ranch is home to irrigated and wood-post fenced pastures currently containing five American bison, four American quarter horses, one Belgian draft horse, and three miniature horses, which are all included in the sale.

Another important feature of note? Water rights. West Creek Ranch holds significant water rights in western Mesa County, Colorado, and eastern Grand County, Utah, that are supplied from the Dolores River and various tributary streams including West Creek, Gill Creek, John Brown Creek, Blue Creek, Calamity Creek, and North and South Loba Creeks.

Living at West Creek Ranch also puts you in close proximity to nearby Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa, voted in 2016 by Travel + Leisure readers as the “Best in the West,” the No. 5 Best Resort in the U.S. and the No. 16 Best Resort in the world, and by Condé Nast Traveler as the No. 1 Best Resort in Colorado, No. 3 Best Resort in the U.S., and No. 37 Best Resort in the world.

“You truly have this opportunity to be the first person to lay eyes on something,” says Zebulon Miracle, curator of curiosity at Gateway Canyons Resort.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal back in June, if the property fetches its asking price, it would set a new record for the region. We are willing to bet there is a wealthy financier or true admirer of the Great American West who already has their eye on the prize.

“Representing a listing of this magnitude is an honor and a privilege,” said LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, president, Scott Webber. “The listing was referred to us by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, out of Washington D.C., and serves as a testament to the powerful referral network made possible only by the Sotheby’s International Realty brand.”